Reversible universal stranding and laying machine



VJ spin-w g- 4, 1959 w. H. SIMCOE ET'AL 2,897,646

REVERSIBLE UNIVERSAL STRANDING AND LAYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet l WILL/AM H. SIMCOE and MICHAEL R. Vf/VNETT By W%% A Horn ey CHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm mm mu mm w mm mm .90

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INVENTORS W/LL IAM H. .S/MCOE and MICHAEL R. VEN/VETT attorney W. H. SIMCOE ET AL REVERSIBLE UNIVERSAL STRANDING AND LAYING MA Aug. 4, 1959 Filed Jan. 15 1958 Aug. 4, 1959 w. H. SIMCOE ETAL REVERSIBLE UNIVERSAL STRANDING AND LAYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 I n a n MN] Wk 1 NW %N F. wm n l mm M ER 3 m6 R R 8 90 Q E Iali NM NM I 1 .|E n O O .l O 0 .||ll I wm Mm 3 Q wk mm I wk r. 1-H" I y t w w vm vn mm. M S v INVENTORS WILL/AM H. S/MCOE and MICHAEL R. VE/V/VETT B M y Aflomey Aug. 4, 1959 REVERSIBLE UNIVERSAL STRANDING ANB LAYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1958 w. H. smcoz ETAL 2,897,646

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Gear Change A florney Aug. 4, 1959 w. H. SIMCOE ETAL 2,897,646

REVERSIBLE UNIVERSAL STRANDING AND LAYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /54$ Confro/ 6 533,

c 74ss /40 1 /44s INVENTORS I46 I36 W m 144 WILL/AM h. SIMCOE and /38 MICHAEL R. vnv/vzrr Attorney United States Patent M REVERSIBLE UNIVERSAL 'STRANDING AND LAYING MACHINE William H. Simcoe, Hamden, and Michael R. Vennett, New Haven, Conn., assignors to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application January 15, 1958, Serial No. 709,138 8 Claims. (Cl. 57-58.3)

This invention relates to a universal stranding machine and more particularly to a machine for forming wires into strands or strands into cord or rope. There are many types of strands and ropes, and in most cases separate machines are necessary for making each type of strand or rope. In some instances a few types of strand or rope may be made on the same machine. In many instances the demand for the various types of strands or ropes is such that the machines cannot be kept in operation continuously but must be idle a good percentage of the time. One type of strand is used for cutting stone. In this type of strand two or more wires are stranded together in a manner similar to that shown in the patent to De V. DAvancourt No. 2,604,883. In such strands the wires are first stranded right lay and then left lay with a reversal section therebetween. Another type of 2. bays 6 on each side thereof. The center bay 4 is pref-, erably of the tubular type consisting of a tube 8 having three cutout portions 10 around its periphery. Spiders 12 and 12 fit within the ends of tube 8 and are fastened thereto in any desired manner, such as by means of bolts. Three holes 14 are provided through the spiders 12 and 12' adjacent the outer periphery thereof for a purpose which will appear later. A hole 16 is arranged on either side of each hole 14. Hub 18 of spider 12 has an axial opening 20 therethrough and a radial opening 22 extend ing from the outer end of the opening 20. A sheave 24 is mounted on the hub 18 in the opening 22. A pair of rolls 26 are mounted on base 28 for rotatively support* ing each of the spiders 12 and 12'. A sheave 30 is mounted on the outside of cylinder 8. An end spider32 is provided at each end of the rotor 2. Each of the stone sawing wire is shown in the patent to De V. DAvan- It is therefore an object of our invention to provide a stranding machine capable of making each of the types of strands, cords and ropes discussed above.

Another object is to provide a machine wherein strands or ropes can be delivered from each end of the machine. These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the stranding machine of our invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of the left hand end of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the right hand end of the machine; Figures 2 and 2* together showing the-entire machine between closing dies;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing one of the bays in more detail; i Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal elevation of one end portion of the machine;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 4; r Figure 6 is an enlarged longitudinal elevatiompartly in section, of ,one end of the rotor;

j Figure 7 'is a view looking'toward theright of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a 'view take'n on' theline VIII-VIII of draulic systems.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference spiders 32 has a peripheral groove 34 therein for receiving flanges 36 which form part of support rollers 38 mounted on the base 28. As best shown in Figures 6 and 7 a thrust roller 40 is adjustably mounted on the base 28 and bears against the outer end of the spider 32. The spiders 32 have inwardly extending hubs 42 thereon. A trumpet 44 is fastened to the outer end of each of the spiders 32. An axial opening 46 extends through the hub 42 and trumpet 44. A standard twister head 48 is mounted on the end of the trumpet 44. This twister head has openings 50 therethrough. The number of openings varies with the number of Wires being stranded. For twisting a single wire a single hole -on-the axis is provided, whereas when handling multiwires the open 54 is rotatively mounted on spaced rolls 64 mounted on base 28. The spiders 12, 32 and 54-of Figure 2 are interconnected -by means of three tie rods 66 and the spiders 12', 32 and 54 of Figure 2 are interconnected by three similar tie rods ,66 whichextend into openings 14. "A spacer tube 68 surrounds each rod 66 between adjacent spiders.

A cradle 70 is mounted in each of the bays 4 and 6.

Each of the cradles 70 has a shaft 72 at each end. The

numeral 2 indicates the rotor of our stranding machine. as shown, this rotor consists of a center bay 4'and three shafts 72 of the cradles in bays 6 are supported by means of bearings 74 mounted in the axial opening of the spiders. The left shaft 72 of the cradle in bay 4 is mounted in a support 75. A spool 76 may be mounted in each of the cradles with its axis arranged transversely of the rotor 2. A die 78 is mounted on each end of the machine on the exit side of the twister head 48. A reverse lay holding sheave 80 is located adjacent each die 78 on the exit side thereof. A hauloff mechanism consisting of an idler drum 81 and driven drum 82 is mounted adjacent each sheave 80 on the exit side thereof. A takeup reel 84 is mounted on the exit side of each drum 82. A guide sheave 86 may be located above the reel 84. A counter roller 88 is located between the sheave 80 and drum 81. As best shown in Figure 8 the rotor 2 is driven from a motor 90 by means of belt 92, sheave 94, belt 96 and sheave 30. The sheave 94 is mounted on a shaft 98 together with a second sheave 100. A. belt 102 drives a back shaft 104 through sheaves and 106. The shaft 104 extends longitudinally of the rotor 2 to points adjacent drums 81 and 82.

A gear change mechanism 108 is connected to each end of the shaft 104. The output of each of the gear change mechanisms 108 is connected to a shaft 110 having a bevel pinion 112 at its free end. A A pair of bevel Patented Aug. 4, 1959,

gears and 116 which are splined to a shaft 118 can be selectively engaged with the pinion 112. A pinion 120 is mounted on the shaft- 118 and is in mesh with a gear 122 which drives drum 82. A. sprocket 124 is. mounted on the shaft 118 and drives reel 84 through the usualslip drive mechanism 126. The gears 114-and 116 are connected by means of a connector'128 which slides onshaft 118. The distance between gears 114 and 116 is such that one or both gears must be out of engagement with pinion 112. The connector 128 has its other end mounted on a piston rod 130 which is connected to piston 132 of a three-position cylinder 134 having a second piston 136 therein. Air may be supplied to ports 138, 140 and 142 in cylinder 134. As shown in Figure 9 ports 138 and 140 are connected to a four-way valve 144 having two control solenoids 1448 and 14451. Port 142 is connected to a four-way valve 146 having an operating solenoid 1468. Air is supplied to the valves 144 v and 146 through conduit 148 Solenoid 1448 is operated by means of switch 150, solenoid 144S1 is operated by means of switch 152 and solenoid 1468 by means of switch 154. Closing of switch 150 energizes solenoid 1445 to move valve 144 to a position where air will be introduced into port 138, thus moving connector 128 downwardly as shown in Figure so that gear 116 will be in engagement with pinion 112. Closing of switch 152 while switch 150 is open energizes solenoid 14481 which moves valve 144 to a position where air will be entering port 140. This will move connector 128 upwardly as shown in Figure 5 so that gear 114 will be in engagement with pinion 112. Closing of switch 154 while switches 150 and 152 are open energizes solenoids 1448 and 146S,'thus moving valve 144 to the position where air will be delivered to port 138 and valve 146 will be r the wire will p through opening 8 around sheave moved to the position where air will enter port 142.- This positions connector 128 in the position with pinion 112 being out of engagement with both gears 114 and 116. i The motor 90 is provided with the usual starter 156 to continue rotation of rotor 2 in the'same direction so that thewire to the right of center as shown in Figure 1 will be twisted to the left and the wire to the left twisted right. When substantially twenty-five feet has been twisted in this manner the preset counter 162 will again cause the control 160 to operate to stop motor 90. When motor 90 comes to a complete stop the switch 154 is closedto movethe pinion 112 out of engagement with gear 116 into its neutral position. The motor 90 is started in the opposite direction to rotate the rotor 2 approximately one revolution. The reversal lay holding sheave 80 will holdthe finished wire from moving during this time and a reversal section is formed. Motor 90 is then stopped and the switch 152 closed to move gear 114 into mesh with pinion 112. The motor 90 is again started in operation; thus completing one cycle of operation.

If it is desired to make twisted wires of all right or all left lay, the operation is essentially the same except that there will be no reversal of lay. If onlyright lay or only left lay is being made the wire will be pulled from one spool'only. If right lay and left lay are both being made the right lay will be pulled from one end of the machine and the left lay from the other end.

which brings the motor gradually up to speed and also stops it. The starting and stopping of motor 90 may be done manually by means of a switch 158. Alternatively, the operation of starter 156 may be controlled by means of acontrol 160 which is connected for operation by a preset counter 162 which is connected to roll 88. The control 160 may also control the operations of switches 150,152 and 154 by means of solenoids 1505, 1528 and 1548. The takeup spool 84 is tensioned by means of a hemp rope friction brake 164.

Assuming that it is desired to make stone sawing strand consisting of a single fiat wire, a spool 76 having fiat wire wound thereon is placed on each of the end cradles. The wire is passed through the openings 46 and 50, die

78 and once around the sheave 80 and then around the j drums 81 and 82 to the reel 84. The operator then starts the machine in operation. If the automatic control is being used, no furtherattention by the operator is necessary.- However, the following operations may be performed manually by the operator operating switch 158 to control the motor 90. For automatic control the preset counter 162 is set to operate the control 160 at definite intervals, for example every twenty-five feet. Assuming that the rotor 2 is rotating in such a direction that the wire to the right of Figure 1 will be twisted to the right and the wire to the left will be twisted to the left, the motor 90 will operate to cause rotation in this direction until almost twenty-five feet of wirehas been twisted. The motor 90 then is deenergized and its brake applied. After the motor 90 comes to a complete stop and switch 154 is closed, thus disengaging pinion 112 from gear 114. The motor 90 is then started to rotate the rotor 2 one revolution in the opposite direction. 7 Duringthis time the sheave 80 prevents the finished product from twisting in the die 78. The motor 90 then comes to a complete stop and the switch 150 is closed so as to engage pinion 112 with gear 116.; The motor 90 is again started In making two-wire stone sawingstrand the operation is much the same as when making a single wire strand; In this case spools 76 are placed in two of the cradles at each end of the machine. The spools will have wire wound thereon which is preferably round but which may have another shape. If the spools are in the two end bays at each end of the machine the wire from the end bay passes through the opening 46 around sheave 52 and through twister head 48. If a spool is in the second 62 to guide 164-mounted on spacer tube 68 and thence along the spacer tube 68 to an opening in spider 32-and down to twister head48. As the rotor 2 rotates the spools remain substantially stationary and the two wires are twisted by'the twister head 48 and formed together in die 78. Incase a spool is in the first bay adjacent the center bay 4the wire will pass through opening 58 of the spider between the first and second bay and then outwardly around sheave 62 toa guide 164 mounted on a spacer tube 68 and thence through openings in spiders 54 and 32 to the closing die 78. In making two-wire strand any of the three bays 'may be utilized, but it is preferred to use the first and second bays adjacent the center. In making three-wire. strandspools 76 will be in each of the bays 6 and the wire will pass to'the twister head 48 in-the manner described above. The formed strand in each case will pass around reverse lay sheave 80, drums781 and 82 to reel 84. The sequence of operations in making either two or three-wire strands having alternate right and 'left lay sections will be the same as that described above for the single wire strand. Also, in like manner all right hand lay strands may be made by one-half of the machine and all left hand lay made by the other half. 7

When making four to seven-wire strand the strands will be pulled from one end of the machine only. If the strand has a center wire the center wire will he usually pulled from the spool at the end bay completely through the openings 46 and 50 to the twister. head 48 and the remaining wires will be pulled from the other spools through the center opening of the spider adjacent thereto and. then outwardly and along the spacer tubes 68 in the manner'described above. I While it is desirable to'have the drive for the rotor driving the center bay 4 'in order to equalize the torque of the rotor the'rotor may be driven in other ways. Driving from the center bay results in a much more uniform strands into rope or cord and the term wire as used in the specification and claims is meant to cover either a single wire or a plurality of wires stranded together, and the term strand is used to indicate the stranding of single wires or multiple wires into a stranded construction.

While one embodiment of our invention has been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A stranding machine comprising a rotor, said rotor having at least two bays at each end thereof, a wire carrying spool in each of said bays, means for rotating said rotor selectively in either direction, a twister head at each end of said rotor, a closing die at the exit end of each twister head, a hauloff mechanism at the exit endof each twister head, a reel at the exit end of each twister head, means for driving said hauloff mechanisms in synchronism with the rotation of said rotor, means for disengaging said last named means, and means for causing said haulofi mechanisms to rotate in the same direction regardless of the direction of rotation of said rotor.

2. A stranding machine comprising a rotor, said rotor having at least two bays at each end thereof, a wire carrying spool in each of said bays, means for rotating said rotor selectively in either direction, a twister head at each end of said rotor, a closing die at the exit end of each twister head, a reverse lay holding sheave at the exit end of each die around which the formed strand is wrapped, means for maintaining the distance between twister heads constant, a haulofi mechanism at the exit end of each reverse lay holding sheave, a reel at the exit end of each hauloff mechanism, means for tensioning said reels, means for driving said hauloif mechanisms in synchronism with the rotation of said rotor, means for disengaging said last named means, and means for causing said hauloff mechanisms to rotate in the same direction regardless of the direction of rotation of said rotor.

3. A stranding machine comprising a rotor, said rotor having at least two bays at each end thereof, a wire carrying spool in each of said bays, means for rotating said rotor selectively in either direction, a twister head at each end of said rotor, a closing die at the exit end of each twister head, a reverse lay holding sheave at the exit end of each die around which the formed strand is wrapped, a hauloff mechanism at the exit end of each twister head, means for maintaining the distance between twister heads constant, a hauloif mechanism at the exit end of each reverse lay holding sheave, a reel at the exit end of each haulotf mechanism, means for driving said hauloif mechanisms in synchronism with the rotation of said rotor, means for disengaging said last named means, and means for causing said hauloif mechanisms to rotate in the same direction regardless of the direction of rotation of said rotor.

4. A stranding machine comprising a rotor, said rotor having a center bay and at least two bays on each side thereof, a wire carrying spool in each of said bays, means for rotating said rotor selectively in either direction, a twister head at each end of said rotor, a closing die at the exit end of each twister head, a hauloff mechanism at the exit end of each twister head, a reel at the exit end of each twister head, means for driving said hauloif mechanisms in synchronism with the rotation of said rotor, means for disengaging said last named means, and means for causing said haulotf mechanisms to rotate in the same direction regardless of the direction of rotation of said rotor.

5. A stranding machine comprising a rotor, said rotor having a center bay and at least two bays on each side thereof, a wire carrying spool in each of said bays, the spool in the center bay being removable, means for rotating said rotor selectively in either direction, a twister head at each end of said rotor, a closing die at the exit end of each twister head, a reverse lay holding sheave at the exit end of each die around which the formed strand is wrapped, means for maintaining the distance between twister heads constant, a haulofi mechanism at the exit end of each reverse lay holding sheave, a reel at the exit end of each hauloff mechanism, means for driving said hauloff mechanisms in synchronism with the rotation of said rotor, means for disengaging said last named means, and means for causing said haulofi mechanisms to rotate in the same direction regardless of the direction of rotation of said rotor.

6. A stranding machine comprising a rotor, said rotor having a center bay and at least two bays on each side thereof, a wire carrying spool in each of said bays, the spool in the center bay being removable, means for rotating said rotor selectively in either direction, a twister head at each end of said rotor, at closing die at the exit end of each twister head, a reverse lay holding sheave at the exit end of each die around which the formed strand is wrapped, means for maintaining the distance between twister heads constant, a hauloff mechanism at the exit end of each reverse lay holding sheave, a reel at the exit end of each hauloif mechanism, means for driving said hauloif mechanisms in synchronism with the rotation of said rotor, means for disengaging said last named means, and means for causing said haulofl mechanisms to rotate in the same direction regardless of the direction of rotation of said rotor.

7. A stranding machine comprising a rotor, said rotor having at least two bays at each end thereof, a wire carrying spool in each of said bays, means for rotating said rotor selectively in either direction, a twister head at each end of said rotor, a closing die at the exit end of each twister head, a haulotf mechanism at the exit end of each twister head, means for driving said hauloif mechanisms in synchronism with the rotation of said rotor, means for disengaging said last named means, and

ing die at the exit end of each twister head, a hauloff mechanism at the exit end of each twister head, means for driving said hauloif mechanisms in synchronism with the rotation of said rotor, means for disengaging said last named means, and means for causing said hauloflf mechanisms to rotate in the same direction regardless of the direction of rotation of said rotor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Larmuth Sept. 9, 191-3 Larmuth Aug. 9, 1932 

